Business (Y13) - Handy's classifications of organisational structure

What are the four types of culture?

Power, role, task, person

Where does power come from in a power structure?

It radiates from the centre and normally comes from one or few people

What style of leadership could a power culture take on?

Autocratic leadership style

What are some qualities of a power culture?

Quick decisions can be made, few rules, it’s a strong culture

Where does power come from in a role culture?

Power comes from a person’s position within the business such as managers and CEOs

What type of leadership could a role culture take on?

Autocratic/ paternalistic style

One drawback of role culture?

Prevents innovation

What are some qualities of role culture?

Clearly delegated authority, hierarchical bureaucracy, slow decision making

Where does the power come from in a task culture?

Comes from expertise

What are some qualities of task culture?

Team formed to solve problems, matrix structure, dynamic culture

What’s a potential risk of a team culture?

Teams may develop their own objectives

What type of leadership style could a team culture take on?

Paternalistic/ democratic

Where does the power come from in a person culture?

Power comes from individuals

What style of leadership could a person culture take on?

Democratic/ liassez-faire

What work place could have person culture?

Lawyer firms, accountants

What are some qualities of a person culture?

Employees are seen as superior to the business, most employees have similar training and experience, high level of autonomy